Dang! You’ve got quite a list going. I’ll have to snag it when the time comes to make the shaded areas want the split.
I had to think long and hard about the border with Mexico. To accomplish that control meant including Imperial County with the larger state despite it being predominately liberal. The population was small enough that the benefits of controlling the border outweighed the risks.
I’m serious. I really do believe that thru a statewide initiative you’re going to have to provide some selling points to the cast-off counties.